Hours after Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Bournemouth, Pep Guardiola’s men responded with a huge victory that put the team one point clear of their north London rivals who are top of the table, but with a game left for them.

Arsenal have 83 points with two games remaining in one of the toughest title races in years, while City have 82 points, but there are three games left.

Guardiola said: “Nine more points and we will become champions. If we get seven points, six points, three points, Arsenal will win the Premier League. If we win games, we’ll be the champions. The players know that and we have to do it again and again”.

Haaland, who extended his lead to the Premier League’s top scorer with 25 goals, scored from the penalty spot in the 12th minute after Ryan Ait Nouri made a late tackle on Josko Gvardiol inside the box.

Haaland, 23, doubled his lead in the 35th minute when he rose high to play with his head at the far post after Rodri’s cross.

Haaland told Sky Sports: “This is a beautiful goal. My father (Alpha-Inge Haaland, who played for City) will be happy with that goal. Nice celebration, I enjoyed it. Not bad, 25 goals this season. We keep moving forward.”

The Norwegian scored again from the penalty spot just before half-time after being fouled by Nelson Semedo from behind inside the area.

Hwang Hee-chan reduced the deficit for Wolves in the 53rd minute.

But a minute later, Haaland dashed any hopes of the visitors coming back with his fourth goal.

Haaland, a restless scoring machine, controlled a diagonal pass in the air from Phil Foden before taking the ball in and firing into the far corner.

On Haaland’s performance, Guardiola said: “He was injured, and to get back to your best form you need time, but I’m happy with his performance, with his exceptional goals. (He’s special) in the penalty shootout too because we know that some days it’s not easy. Really happy for him.”

Substitute Julián Alvarez completed the scoring for City in the 85th minute.

Wolves, whose manager Gary O’Neill was serving a suspension, did not resemble the team that beat City 2-1 earlier in the season.

O’Neill, whose team are 11th in the standings, commented: “I think we mostly hurt ourselves. If you make mistakes against these players, they will punish you. We made a lot of mistakes and Manchester City were very decisive. It was a tough game, and we knew it would be”.

City play two away games against Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur and then conclude the season at home to West Ham United.

Arsenal travel to Old Trafford to meet Manchester United before hosting Everton on the final day of the season.